Retired #26: Cale Hooker - Has announced his retirement at season's end 🍷

[Lore]

Contract Status: Retiring at the end of Season 2021
Last Game Played: Round 19, 2021 (omit)
Injury Status: n/a

 

[fishardansin]

Is there a spot on the list to keep if as insurance and a playing coach in VFL?

 

[yodellinhank]

What rot.

 

[Beerfish]

Just massage him

 

[Nifft]

Just massage him until the elimination final (if there happens to be one for us) and then bring him in.

He's one of my favourite players, but if we make the finals he has to come in on merit. He has to make the team better, not just be included because it'd be good to give him a finals win. If the forward line is operating really well without him how could they potentially disrupt that balance for a final after we've spent so long without a win?

Having said that, I really hope the rest does him some good and he does get back to the form he was in earlier in the year. Would love to have him in the side if he's playing well.

 

[ant555]

Been a great servant but the time has come to an end. We are moving to the next stage. Have loved his work over the journey and was one a the few who was in the no trade camp all those years ago.

 

[DERO]

Yep.

 

[Alberto_Magnifico]

Just massage him until the elimination final (if there happens to be one for us) and then bring him in.

I imagine this would some sort of force fed WA Shiraz from a rubber nippled bottle and massaged by small footed giggling Gesha scenario

 

[Donakebab]

Does he get one last hurrah against Collingwood?

The ultimate team player, if we're still a shake for finals and he knows he's cooked, does he even put his hand up?

 

[RearNaked]

One more year

 

[The Prosecutor]

I hope the Dogs pick him up for a year to cover Bruce.

 

[Bjchan13]

I imagine this would some sort of force fed WA Shiraz from a rubber nippled bottle and massaged by small footed giggling Gesha scenario

If she can get past Beerfish

 

[WindyHillWarrior]

The sitch with bellcho last year makes you think hooker and zaka won't be getting farewell games.

it would be ruthlesss but the right call.

 

[bombre-boy]

I guess they cant play in front of a crowd, but still it would be nice to have a farewell game. Suspect if we are not a chance to get int othe 8 they would get one.

 

[Beerfish]

If she can get past Beerfish

She'd have to really want it.

 

[Keystone agony]

The only way we can't make the 8 is if GWS and WCE both win this week and we lose going into the last round

I don't think their getting a farewell game unless that occurs

 

[eth-dog]

If we lose on the weekend and fall out of finals contention he should get one. Otherwise no.

 

[blitzer]

I wouldn't necessarily bring him in but if he showed some good form I wouldn't write him off. Its not like he hasn't done anything for us this year. He's kicked over 30 goals. So if he comes back freshened up he may still have a role to play. Its not like we need him to rediscover his form from his prime, we just need him to rediscover his form from the early part of this season. In rounds 2 - 5 (his best period) he kicked 3, 5, 3 and 4 goals against Power, Swans, Saints and Lions. You'd certainly take those sorts of efforts now. Although in fairness scoring was higher at that point in the season and markedly so.

He's not holding out the future of our forward line either. Jones is injured. Francis seems unlikely to be a long term forward option (could be one but its pretty unlikely) so its really just a matter of who can help us win the most for that particular spot.

Not gonna lie, I'd absolutely love to see Hooker win a final with us and see the big fist pump.

 

[Call Me Cake]

I want him to have 1 more year to earn his spot from the 2's.

But if that's not to be, then,

Put him down as a medical sub last game. 10 minutes to go, last quarter, fake an ankle injury.

Bring him in, chair him off.

Then let him sign with a potential flag contender next year.

 

[BrunoV]

I would really hate for this to be the way his career ends.

He's been a genuine warrior, a heart and soul player, not to mention being pure quality at either end of the ground (and arguably the best contested mark in the game over the last 9 years).

I can't say I disagree with the call, though. Sometimes circumstances conspire to only give coaches a few weeks to have a look at players before making crucial decisions and I think we are in that space. Rutten has been exceptionally good at taking these opportunities to have a look at what is already at his disposal.

If Wright finishes the year kicking another 6 or 7 goals that could be enough to end the search for KPF 1 for 2022 (and takes the pressure off that aspect of list management). I suspect we may be given the option of trading Francis back home (just a hunch) but the knowledge he has generated 3 or 4 scoring shots a game forward in 4 games might change our perspective on a trade (as he could prove himself to be enough of a threat to effectively combine with Wright and Jones in 2022).

Honestly, a farewell in front of an empty stadium is no way for him to go if that's what it comes to.

 

[Hird05]

Seems like the kind of guy who would really value his team mates highly so doubt he would want a charity game over team success. If Francis or 2MP get injured he'd get a game. No way he's up to Afl next year you'd think unfortunately.

 

[RearNaked]

I’d rather him be playing than Stewart

 

[boncer34]

I’d rather him be playing than Stewart

 

[DallasCrane316]

SEN reporting that his retirement announcement is imminent.

 

[VelvetSledge]

SEN reporting that his retirement announcement is imminent.

I’m not ready

 

[RearNaked]

I’ll cry he better not